Top Culinary Schools

Top Culinary Schools - Culinary Institute of America

2009-07-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that one of the most revered and top culinary schools in America is The Culinary Institute of America also known as CIA. The Culinary Institute of America has a total of 3 campuses around the country, with their main campus located in Hyde Park, New York. The other two campuses are located in St. Helena, California and San Antonio, Texas. So no matter which part of the country you live in you will have the opportunity to attend one of these fantastic schools.

Whether you are looking to begin your culinary career or further you professional qualifications then the Culinary Institute of America is the place to look. Some of the degrees offered are: Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S) and Associate of Occupational Studies (A.O.S) degrees. The Associate of Occupational Studies can be obtained in either Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry Arts. As you can see a wide range of courses are available from the CIA so you should be able to find something to meet your needs.

This school employs around 125 culinary instructors and chefs so there is no doubt that there is an abundance of knowledge to be gained from these instructors as you would expect from one of the top culinary schools in America.

The B.P.S. degree is a 38 month long course and the A.O.S. degrees are 21 months. All of these degrees are also followed up with an 18-week paid externship. This is a great way to get industry experience first hand as you will be working in a real world environment. This is something that absolutely cannot be taught in a classroom setting and has to be experienced. Many students find that they learn as much from taking part in the externship as they do in the classroom as you have to think on your feet and deal with different situations each day. It's also a great way to find out if you would enjoy working in certain types of environment.

However if you already have 4 or more years experience in the cooking industry then it is possible that you will be able to enter the accelerated program and bypass some of the introductory courses.

There is also an American Culinary Federation (ACF) accredited program for professional chefs already in the business who are looking to further both their skills and qualifications. Having a qualification like this on your resume can only help your job prospects in the future.

The Culinary Institute of America is the only school that has the authority to oversee the master chef certification test. So if you are already at the top of your culinary game looking to take the master chef test then be ready for a grueling 10-day long examination. Very few people in the world have actually passed this test as it is so tough.

CIA hasn’t become one of the top culinary schools in America by accident. This school boasts an impressive list of alumni. Famous chefs such as Anthony Bourdain, Todd English, John Besh, and Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes fame have all learned how to cook there.

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology and Middle States Commission on Higher Education recognize all degrees obtained at CIA.

Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park campus in New York contains the most on campus restaurants out of all their locations. Students who have finished their externships usually finish out their courses by working at these campus restaurants. Restaurants include: The American Bounty Restaurant which serves traditional American food with local ingredients, The Escoffier Restaurant offers French style cuisine, The Ristorante Caterina de' Medici offers up delicious Italian dishes, St. Andrew's Café is for those looking for a more casual dining experience in this gorgeous cafe setting, and finally The Apple Pie Bakery Café is for some of the best deserts you will ever taste. If you're not able to make it one of these restaurants, the CIA offer the Culinary Institute of America Cookbook and Baking At Home With the Culinary Institute of America books for sale. You can get a taste of these fantastic restaurants at home.

A top culinary school comes with a top culinary price tag. The tuition averages out to around $13,000 a semester. There are a total of 8 semesters so the grand total is $104,000 for the full course. The Culinary Institute of America also offer living accommodation in residence halls for a price. Obviously the more people you share a room with the cheaper the price will be. For a single bedroom it is about $3,450 per semester while a room for 4 people is $2,185 per semester.

In summary, the Culinary Institute of America belongs on the list of top 10 culinary schools in America and if you can afford the tution, you will receive a fantastic education.

Top Culinary Schools - Le Cordon Bleu Schools

2009-07-04T11:21:00.001-07:00

Heard of Le Cordon Bleu? Who hasn't! No how about Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America? Maybe not so familiar but they are one of the premier culinary school specialists out there. Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America programs are a slightly different version of the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu in France. As of 4th of July 2009, there are fifteen campuses located across the United States in 12 different states. Most are in close proximity to the nation’s largest metro areas, including San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas.

So what is it that makes Le Cordon Bleu so special? Well French cuisine is one of the most revered in the world and Le Cordon Bleu combines classical French techniques with innovative American technology. A match made in culinary heaven. The curriculum offered strictly follows the French style of cooking which of course will equip its students with the skills required to have a successful culinary career. Students are frequently encouraged to take the skills they have learned and create new exciting and innovative recipes. They also spend a great deal of time on the students personal needs as well as professional and educational.

The types of study offered are also exceptional. Students can choose to follow one of the paths listed below.

* The Culinary Arts program is designed for students who would like to pursue a professional chef career. Classic French cuisine and traditional American techniques are taught. The emphasis is very much on being hands on and working in simulated kitches with faculty chefs, and guest chefs and your final few months of the program are spent sharpening your skills in an externship in a professional restaurant kitchen. The course includes:

Basic Cookery
Culinary Arts Concepts – Baking and Pastry
Nutrition
Hospitality Supervision– International Cuisine
Food and Beverage Cost Control

* Patisserie and Baking program trains those wishing to be pastry chefs and bakers. Topics such as baking, including how to execute and handle cakes, breads, chocolate and sugar. Modern professional baking equipement is on hand for you to use. Finally you perfect your skills in advanced baking and pastry applications. This course includes:

Introduction to Pâtisserie and Baking...
Introduction to Cake Formulas and Assembly Techniques
Advanced Pâtisserie and Baking Techniques

* Hospitality and Restaurant Management programs train students in a wide range of skills necessary to successfully run a restaurant or hotel in the demanding hospitality industry. These programs are usually Associates or Bachelors degrees due to the length of the course. This course includes:

Hospitality Marketing
Professional Communication
Le Cordon Bleu Cuisine
Hospitality and Restaurant Operations

* Culinary Management is offered in some campuses and teaches top-level food preparation and culinary skills, but this is combined with training ineconomics and finance, cost control and culinary management methods that put you on the track to successfully supervising a range of food service businesses.

Curriculum's may vary slightly from campus to campus so ensure you check this before signing up. Some Le Cordon Bleu campuses are standalone programs while others have become an add-on to an already well-established culinary school, such as the California School of Culinary Arts.

As you can see, Le Coron Bleu is one of top culinary schools on offer.

Top Culinary Schools - Make sure its an accredited institute!

2009-07-03T12:09:00.001-07:00

If the culinary school you're planning to go to hasn't been accredited then forget it. It's the basic thing you're looking for. If it's not accredited who knows what kind of an education you will get and worst of all, how valuable will your qualification be at the end of the course? Accreditation provides students with the reassurance that they are receiving a sound, reliable culinary education. Oh, and of course a useful qualification!

Culinary arts programs are accredited by 1 of 6 regional associations or by accrediting organizations like the American Culinary Federation (ACF), which evaluates schools against a rigorous set of standards. This ensures that the culinary program was evaluated by notable culinary professions. This is the largest accrediting agency, its primary responsibilities are to make sure that items such as curriculum, resources, faculty, and support staff meet the standards they have set in order to promote excellence in education to students and a greater commitment to the industry.

As well as ACF, there are several other accrediting bodies. In the U.S., the six regional accrediting bodies are:

* Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
* Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
* Western Association of Schools and Colleges
* New England Association of Schools and Colleges
* Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
* North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Ensure that any culinary school you plan to attend has been accredited by one of these organisations or by the equivalent in your country, if you do not live in the U.S. I guarentee the extra research will be worth it in the end especially when you start to look for a job!

Top Culinary Schools - Location!

2009-07-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Top culinary schools are every where these days, so how do you choose the right institute for you? Location is one of the most important things to consider. Going to a top culinary school can be expensive so ensure you take travel costs and the cost of living into account when planning. I'm sure most of us would love to be attending a culinary school in Hawaii but for some it will be just a dream!

Another factor is what do you plan do when you graduate? Will you stay in the city where you went to school? What is the job market like there at the moment? How is it projected to be in 2 years time?

Perhaps the most important factor is the school curriculum. You want to choose a college based on the curriculum that matters most to you. If, for example, you are more interested in learning to be a baker. You will want to look into culinary arts training that focus more on baking than being a line chef. Some schools do focus on different aspects of the culinary world and so research is important. The cooking schools in the United States tend to teach a broad spectrum since palates are so diverse here. Some however are more famous for their baking produce than anything else. Should you wish to study French cuisine exclusively it would be best to go to France where you can learn from the masters of the trade.

In summary, finding a top culinary school location is an important aspect of your research and one of the first things you should clear in your mind!

Top Culinary Schools

2009-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Top Culinary Schools are difficult to find but with this blog I plan to bring you information on the best out there. No matter what kind of culinary art school you are looking for this blog will give you a breakdown on where to find what you need.

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2008-08-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

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